Most scientific literature is written only in English, creating an alarming knowledge gap for the 75 percent of the world who don’t speak it. That’s a big problem for climate change — because it’s hard to take action on something you don’t understand. With Climate Cardinals, an international youth-led nonprofit that’s working to make the climate movement more accessible, activist and social entrepreneur Sophia Kianni is furthering the global transfer of knowledge by translating and sourcing crucial climate resources into more than 100 languages. A barrier-breaking talk about the collective effort we’ll need to protect the future of our planet.
Countdown is TED’s global initiative to accelerate solutions to the climate crisis. The goal: to build a better future by cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030, in the race to a zero-carbon world. Get involved at
Learn more about #TEDCountdown:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
Website:
Watch the full 2021 TED Countdown Global livestream here:
Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know.
Become a TED Member:
Follow TED on Twitter:
Like TED on Facebook:
Subscribe to our channel:
TED’s videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy (). For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at
Lia
February 28, 2022 at 4:09 pm
I’m quite suprised that so many people don’t know about climate change.
doinkr
February 28, 2022 at 4:46 pm
It’s a shame really, I took an Ap Environmental class in high school and was constantly upset this wasn’t common knowledge.
Eldralzi Harvadraak
February 28, 2022 at 5:32 pm
I´m surprised about China
APEX PREDATOR 101
February 28, 2022 at 6:36 pm
Unfortunately, they’re WILLFULLY ignorant. NATURE will take care of the fools soon enough 🕙
fiona fiona
February 28, 2022 at 7:50 pm
About 6 billion people on this planet deal with more immediate issues, limiting both foresight and the ability to deal with then immediate issues.
It’s embarrassing that a German politician floated the idea of turning nuclear back on after actively dismantling renewable energy expansion him self most of the last 15 years.
(On the the Ukrainian issue and gas availabilities, failing to mention his preference for centralised power infrastructure got us into this mess after Fukushima without making easy military targets)
Apurbo Alfred
February 28, 2022 at 4:10 pm
I am from Bangladesh 🇧🇩😍🇧🇩
Nando Tang
February 28, 2022 at 4:15 pm
YES PREECH!!!
Anas Belkrimi mohamad
February 28, 2022 at 4:23 pm
Learning! Like a person desiring to climb a high mountain, if he is afraid, he remains imprisoned in the pit in which his father made him forget. Climate is a matter for all the people of the earth_thank you.
Le Chevalier Noir
February 28, 2022 at 4:24 pm
Interesting.
…
listen2meokidoki
February 28, 2022 at 4:24 pm
80% of articles are written entirely in English? But that could mean the articles are originally written entirely in English. The IPCC report is very large. Who can translate it and who can pay the cost? Many languages are too primitive to permit a translation of the IPCC report. Most people speaking English know about climate change from the media. NOT from reading the IPCC reports. May I suggest the ignorant 40% are not interested anyway.
dipak Singh
February 28, 2022 at 4:25 pm
it’s a big issue
see the truth 🧿
February 28, 2022 at 4:40 pm
well said!! this issue is prominently highlighted in my country, where indigenous people or communities in low income areas are the ones who faced disproportionate effects of climate change
Vadim Medvedev
February 28, 2022 at 4:41 pm
I don’t think it is so much a language barrier as it is an authoritarian regime barrier. Why aren’t the progressives championing climate change and human rights where it is needed most like in Iran, Venezuela, Russia etc.? Because unlike in the west, there are consequence in doing so over there. Also, most of the climate change narrative is counterproductive.
Gian
February 28, 2022 at 4:42 pm
She’s beautiful
Sticky World
February 28, 2022 at 4:55 pm
Pa da kalii inna forest kata na
Ligia Sommers
February 28, 2022 at 4:56 pm
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻
Tyler Crooks
February 28, 2022 at 5:18 pm
I support your right to raise awareness. However, I don’t believe the vast majority of us (myself included) understand what the consequences will be to make a measurable difference that we can even measure objectively.
My concern is that we have bigger holes in our proverbial boat and will be putting more holes in it to fix a pin hole leak.
Feel free to publicly debate your case with multiple experts on the topic and I will happily reconsider where I stand on this (one of many) issues at that time. Thanks.
Junseob Lee
February 28, 2022 at 5:38 pm
5:56 that guy is really impressed 😂
Jan Ryčl
February 28, 2022 at 6:23 pm
This Green deal crap ends now with current conflict, at least in EU.
A J
February 28, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Oil-producing countries are not going to be educating people about fossil-fuel driven climate change.
Vance H
February 28, 2022 at 6:39 pm
Save Our Planet Now
thepaperwar00
February 28, 2022 at 6:50 pm
I’ve never heard a TED audience with such passionate cheers. That’s the level of passion we need when we discuss and combat climate change. Also, as the field of science communication grows, it only makes sense that we have a growth in the field of translation. Thank you for raising awareness.
HubrisNaut
February 28, 2022 at 7:21 pm
CO2 levels have been 10x as high and the average temperature 10 degrees C higher on average in the past.
Things I Buy
February 28, 2022 at 7:26 pm
Simping so hard rn lol
wojciech strzelecki
March 1, 2022 at 2:09 am
Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.
Mark Twain
A half truth is the worst of all lies, because it can be defended in partiality. In all things that you do, consider the end.
Solon
decide2think
March 1, 2022 at 2:46 am
This is all fine and good, especially if people of another language, motivated toward addressing climate change, live in a democratic country where they can vote for supportive candidates.
However, it will always be the powerful who are the ones who can actually make the needed changes…. And those would be the world leaders in government and business! And there are plenty of English speakers (or have the resources to translate) in that bunch already! So leaders… Wake up already because this is affecting you already… and your children now and in their futures!!
Evan Li
March 1, 2022 at 3:10 am
So where I lived, sometimes the smog becomes worse then the worst fog in the early morning and continues for months
Manjunath Karkal
March 1, 2022 at 9:01 am
4:10 Indigenous people all around the world are definately doing their best to protect the nature, like they have been doing for centuries. I’m sure it’s not their actions that’s hurting Earth as much as the “modern educated society” does.
Lia
March 1, 2022 at 10:59 am
In my country, esp in rural areas, people don’t care much about the environment. And when I told my neighbor to take out the rubbish in the right place, she said “What’s for :Đ.”. My friends are not better;-;, some of them just throw trash onto the water or on the road. I feel like their parents never teach them about climate justice or even some adults don’t like protecting the environment :Đ
Patrick Roland De Guzman
March 1, 2022 at 12:11 pm
The Philippines is also a major english speaking country, but the lack of quality education hinders Filipinos to fully understand Climate Change.